In 1859 America was hit by an EMP (ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSE)
attack from the sun. We survived because we had little
technology to lose. Today such an attack would be devastating beyond
belief. Society would literally shut down.

Today, nuclear weapons can be reconfigured to
be EMP weapons. They are harder to shoot down than regular nuclear
weapons. They also need very little accuracy since they can cover wide
areas by exploding in the upper atmosphere. Meanwhile, modern defense
contractors like Boeing are working on non-nuclear EMP weapons.

Particularly threatening is the possibility of
an enemy state placing a weapon on a satellite with a southern trajectory over
the US. US ABM and warning systems are all aimed north due to the
legacy of the Cold War. Here is a map of what could happen.

SOLAR FLARES: A WEAPON OF NATURE

Though there is no doubt that earth has been
experiencing sporadic solar flares since the beginning of time, the first-known
and largest recorded instance occurred in 1859. A massive burst of solar wind
and magnetic energy was released into space, and sent hurling directly toward
earth. Starting on August 28, 1859, the solar storm continued to impact earth
until September 3rd of the same year. The events were recorded by an English
astronomer named Richard C. Carrington. Days before and during the time that the
solar carnage was unleashed, sunspots and flares were visible on the sun. On
September 1st, the largest flare was recorded, an eruption that sent detrimental
solar winds and magnetic energy through the atmosphere and straight down to
earth. The journey for these types of energies usually takes about three to four
days to complete, but depending on the frequency and severity of the occurrence,
primary solar flares can pave the way for stronger ones to follow soon after.
During this solar flare, telecommunications were dramatically impacted.
Telegraph systems in Europe and North America were affected, sometimes even to
the extent of literally shocking the telegraph operators.

This year, in April, NASA documented the
largest solar flare of the year - a reminder to us all that the threat is still
very real and if anything, more intense given our current damaged atmosphere and
epidemic of global warming.